Introduction

In today's rapidly evolving world the ability to learn, build skills, and adapt quickly is a critical competency for any organisation. From attracting the talent you need in a tight labour market to upskilling your current employees, investing in immersive learning experiences is a powerful way to knock your Employee Value Proposition out of the ball-park and to build skills at scale, and do it quickly.

Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) is a game-changer in accelerating skills development. VR is reshaping the way we approach employee training by providing the following:

• A learning experience that engages many of our senses means less distractions and more focused learning
• Disruption of the forgetting curve through repeated practice leads to long-term retention
• Active learning or “learning by doing” replicates real world scenarios and situations making new information more likely to stick
• A learning experience that is proven to outperform most other learning modalities
• Learning can be done anywhere, anytime asynchronously so employees don’t have to take time off the job in large numbers leading to less disruption
• A highly engaging, fun and more importantly memorable experience
• Simulating common scenarios that employees encounter at work lets participants practice their skills in a low-stakes setting
• Gamified group experiences result in deep personal and team insights based on behaviours demonstrated in the moment
• A scalable learning solution

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Why VR Now?

The number of use cases of implementing VR are increasing exponentially. The technology has developed to deliver an exceptional user experience while our mindset about ways of working and learning has also shifted. Now that VR headsets are more affordable companies can purchase equipment for different locations and roll it out across geographically dispersed frontline teams.

Some VR learning platforms allow L&D teams to design and build their own VR learning modules while the cost of outsourcing totally bespoke VR content continues to drop. There’s also an increasing selection of excellent off-the shelf VR modules to choose from.

Many organisations have already reaped the benefits of successful VR training implementations. Companies like Walmart, Bank of America, MGM, Albertsons, FedEx, JetBlue, GE, Sprouts, and Verizon are using VR technology for frontline workers. Frontline employees are the most in-demand people in the workforce and these individuals need continuous training to enable them to do their job effectively and keep them challenged and motivated.

In the APAC region we are starting to see a number of organisations, including retailers, telcos and manufacturing companies, roll-out VR to their frontline employees to develop their skills and embed new ways of working. J&J, Novartis and others are using VR for medical training, team development and leadership development.

For more tips on how to build skills fast with VR, check out our latest Webinar: Learning in the Metaverse, fad or trend.

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How to get started

Start by assessing your training needs and pinpointing areas where VR can make the most significant impact. Consider the specific skills and knowledge your employees need to acquire and how VR can help them achieve those goals.

Seamlessly integrate VR training with your existing learning initiatives to ensure a smooth transition for your employees. Introduce the new technology gradually and provide support and guidance to help employees adapt to the new learning experience. Consider offering hands-on workshops or demonstrations to familiarise your workforce with the VR technology.

Evaluate the effectiveness of your VR training programmes by monitoring performance and gathering learner feedback. VR platforms deliver insightful skills and capability data so companies can see who is learning and who is not and what content is working or not.

“Consider the specific skills and knowledge your employees need to acquire and how VR can help them achieve those goals.”

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The bottom line

Innovative learning experiences are no longer optional—they're essential for organisational success. As a head of people, learning or human resources, you play a vital role in cultivating a culture of innovation in learning and development in your organisation. Embrace Virtual Reality to elevate your organisation's learning experiences and prepare your workforce for the challenges of the future.

By investing in innovative learning methods like VR training, you'll not only improve employee engagement and retention but also build skills quickly and promote adaptability, resilience, and collaboration within your workforce. These elements are crucial for driving success in today's ever-evolving business landscape, both in Singapore and beyond. So, take the leap and harness the power of Virtual Reality to transform your organisation's learning experiences and unlock its full potential.

At Capability Group, we can help you choose the most suitable VR training solutions for your context considering your organisation's goals and budget. It's essential to find a solution that is not only effective but also scalable as your organisation grows and evolves.